A track assembly 30 for converting a wheeled vehicle 10 into a tracked vehicle. The track assembly 30 has a longitudinally adjustable support frame 40 having a motive source 170 with a drive sprocket 190, a plurality of support rollers 80, 84, 88, a tensioning assembly 90, and an endless track 200.
A track assembly 30 for converting a wheeled vehicle 10 into a tracked vehicle. The track assembly 30 has a longitudinally adjustable support frame 40 having a motive source 170 with a drive sprocket 190, a plurality of support rollers 80, 84, 88, a tensioning assembly 90, and an endless track 200. The track assembly 30 is connected to a vehicle 10 by articulated, resiliently biased mounting assemblies 210, 410. Each mounting assembly 210, 410 includes a first attachment member 212, 412, a link 250, 450, and a second attachment member 300, 500, with the first attachment member 212, 412 configured to be removably attached to a position on a vehicle 10 where a wheel axle attached to an internal drive unit 19 would normally reside but which has been disconnected from its control lines and removed, and with the second attachment member 300, 500 configured to be connected to the support frame 40. The motive source 170 of the track assembly 30 is connected to and controlled by the same control lines 18 that were previously connected to the internal drive unit 19.
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1. A mounting assembly suitable for use in converting a vehicle having a body and a plurality of wheels into a tracked vehicle, the mounting assembly comprising: a first attachment member configured and arranged to be removably attached to a vertical side of the body of the vehicle over an aperture
1. A mounting assembly suitable for use in converting a vehicle having a body and a plurality of wheels into a tracked vehicle, the mounting assembly comprising: a first attachment member configured and arranged to be removably attached to a vertical side of the body of the vehicle over an aperture that is exposed in the vertical side when a first wheel axle has been removed from the vehicle, the first attachment member comprising a first surface, a second surface and a transverse through hole extending between the first and second surfaces, with the mounting assembly positionable so that the through hole is brought into registry with the aperture when the mounting assembly is attached to the vertical side of the vehicle; anda link having a first segment and a second segment operatively connected thereto, with the first segment configured and arranged to be received and rotatably retained in the through hole of the first attachment member, and with the second segment configured and arranged to extend away from the first attachment member. 2. The mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein the second segment is configured and arranged to be received and rotatably retained in a through hole of a second attachment member. 3. The mounting assembly of claim 2, wherein one of the first and second segments is rotatably constrained by a respective attachment member. 4. The mounting assembly of claim 2, wherein the second attachment member comprises an elongated housing. 5. The mounting assembly of claim 4, wherein the housing is configured and arranged to be removably connected to a support frame of a skid steer conversion apparatus. 6. The mounting assembly of claim 5, wherein the housing includes at least one attachment flange. 7. The mounting assembly of claim 4, wherein the second attachment member further comprises at least one spring element located substantially within the through hole. 8. The mounting assembly of claim 2, wherein one of the through holes of the respective first and second attachment members has a substantially cylindrical cross-sectional inner surface, and the other of the through holes of the respective first and second attachment members has a non-circular cross-sectional inner surface. 9. The mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein the first segment of the link has a substantially cylindrical cross-section and wherein the second segment of the link has a non-cylindrical cross-section. 10. An apparatus suitable for use in converting a vehicle having a body and a plurality of wheels into a tracked vehicle, the apparatus comprising: a first mounting assembly configured and arranged to be fastened to a vertical side of the body of the vehicle over a first aperture that is exposed in the vertical side when a first axle of the vehicle has been disconnected and removed therefrom;a second mounting assembly configured and arranged to be fastened to the vertical side of the body of the vehicle over a second aperture that is exposed in the vertical side when a second axle of the vehicle has been disconnected and removed therefrom;a support frame operatively connected to the first and second mounting assemblies; anda motive source attached to the support frame;wherein at least one of the first or second mounting assemblies further comprising a suspension system for reducing jolts transmitted to the vehicle when a vehicle travels over an uneven surface;wherein the suspension system comprises a stationary member, a moveable member and a resilient member positioned substantially between the stationary member and the movable member, wherein the resilient member is configured to resist movement between the stationary member and the moveable member of the mounting assembly as it moves in response to a vehicle when the vehicle travels over an uneven surface; and wherein the stationary member and the movable member of the mounting assembly comprise an articulating connection, and wherein the moveable member is able to rotate with respect to the stationary member. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the motive source is operatively connected to and powered by the vehicle being converted into a tracked vehicle. 12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the motive source is a hydraulic motor. 13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the motive source includes a track contacting surface. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the track contacting surface includes at least one radially extending projection configured to drivingly engage an endless track. 15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the support frame comprises a plurality of elongated sections with the elongated sections adjustably connectable to each other so that a distance defined by the first and second mounting assemblies connected thereto may be adjusted to accommodate vehicles having different wheelbase lengths. 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the distance between which the first and second mounting assemblies may be adjusted is in a range of about 70.0 cm to about 150.0 cm (about 30 to about 60 inches). 17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein at least one of the mounting assemblies comprises a first attachment member, a second attachment member, and a link that operatively connects the first attachment member to the second attachment member. 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the link comprises a first segment, a second segment, and an arm that operatively connects the first segment to the second segment, and wherein the first segment and the second segment are configured and arranged to be substantially received within through holes in respective first and second attachment members. 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first and second segments are able to rotate within respective through holes of the first and second attachment members, and wherein the at least one mounting assembly further comprises a spring element, with the spring element positioned between one of the first or second segments and their respective through holes, and with the spring element configured and arranged to resist angular movement between first or second segment and its respective through hole. 20. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a tensioning member, with the tensioning member operatively connected to the support frame and configured to engage the endless track so that the endless track is spaced from an attachment member of one of the mounting assemblies. 21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the tensioning member comprises first and second ends, wherein one of the ends is pivotally connected to the support frame and the other end is adjustable relative thereto. 22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the tensioning member comprises at least one upper idler roller for engaging an endless track. 23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein one of the ends of the tensioning member further comprises a pair of substantially parallel adjustment slots. 24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the tensioning member comprises a pair of spaced apart, generally u-shaped arms with the u-shaped arms configured and arranged to support at least one upper idler roller. 25. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein each of the first and second mounting assemblies includes a first attachment member, a second attachment member and a link that operatively connects the first attachment member to the second attachment member, and wherein at least one of the first or second attachment members is configured and arranged for limited movement with respect to the support frame, with the limited movement sufficient to enable the first and second mounting assemblies to move independently from each other. 26. An apparatus suitable for use in converting an all-wheeled drive vehicle of the type having a body with two spaced-apart, vertical sides and at least four wheels into a tracked vehicle, the apparatus comprising: a first mounting assembly configured and arranged to be fastened to one of the vertical sides of the body at a location where a first drive axle of the vehicle has been removed;a second mounting assembly configured and arranged to be fastened to said one vertical side of the body at a location where a second drive axle of the vehicle has been removed;a support frame operatively connected to the first and second mounting assemblies; anda motive source connected to the support frame at a location between the first and second mounting assemblies, with the motive source configured and arranged to engage an endless track. 27. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising first and second rollers each having a rotational axis, with the first and second rollers operatively connected to the support frame in a spaced apart relation, with the first and second rollers configured and arranged to ride upon an inner surface of an endless track as the endless track moves relative to the support frame, and with the first and second rollers defining a ground contacting extent of the endless track. 28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the first and second rotational axes of the first and second rollers define a first distance therebetween, wherein the first and second mounting assemblies each includes a cylindrical sleeve with a central axis, with each sleeve extending inwardly into an opening in the side of the body, wherein central axes of the sleeves define a second distance therebetween, and wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance. 29. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising a tensioning member, with the tensioning member operatively connected to the support frame and configured to engage an endless track so that the endless track is spaced from of one of the mounting assemblies. 30. The track assembly of claim 29, wherein the tensioning member comprises first and second ends, wherein one of the ends is pivotally connected to the support frame and the other end is adjustable relative thereto. 31. The track assembly of claim 30, wherein the tensioning member comprises at least one upper idler roller for engaging the endless track. 32. A method of converting a vehicle having a body and a plurality of independently powered wheels into to a tracked vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: a. removing a first wheel, a first axle and its drive motor from one side of the vehicle;b. removing a second wheel, a second axle and its drive motor from said one side of the vehicle; andc. replacing the first and second axles with a first track assembly, with the first track assembly comprising: a first mounting assembly configured and arranged to be fastened to the body of the vehicle over a first aperture that is exposed when the first axle of the vehicle has been disconnected and removed;a second mounting assembly configured and arranged to be fastened to the body of the vehicle over a second aperture that is exposed when the second axle of the vehicle has been disconnected and removed;a support frame operatively connected to the first and second mounting assemblies;a motive source attached to the support frame; andan endless track configured to encircle the first and second mounting assemblies, and arranged to be engaged by the motive source. 33. The method of converting a wheeled vehicle to a tracked vehicle of claim 32, wherein the step of removing the first axle from one side of a vehicle comprises the steps of: i. releasing fastening elements that attach the first axle and its drive motor to the vehicle;ii. moving the first axle and its drive motor out of contact with the vehicle; andiii. disconnecting conduits that extend from the vehicle and which are in communication with the drive motor of the first axle. 34. The method of converting a wheeled vehicle to a tracked vehicle of claim 32, wherein the step of removing the second axle from one side of a vehicle comprises the steps of: i. releasing fastening elements that attach the second axle and its drive motor to the vehicle;ii. moving the second axle and its drive motor out of contact with the vehicle; andiii. disconnecting conduits that extend from the vehicle and which are in communication with the drive motor of the second axle. 35. The method of converting a wheeled vehicle to a tracked vehicle of claim 32, wherein the step of replacing the first and second axles with a track assembly, with the first track assembly comprises the steps of: i. reconnecting at least one conduit that was previously in communication with one of the drive motors of the first or second axles to the motive source attached to the support frame; andii. attaching the mounting assemblies to the vehicle using preexisting attachment points and fastening elements. 36. An apparatus suitable for use in converting an all-wheeled drive vehicle of the type having a body with two sides and at least four wheels into a tracked vehicle, the apparatus comprising: a first mounting assembly configured and arranged to be fastened to a vertical surface of one side of the body at a location where a first drive axle of the vehicle has been removed;a second mounting assembly configured and arranged to be fastened to said vertical surface of said body at a location where a second drive axle of the vehicle has been removed;a support frame operatively connected to the first and second mounting assemblies; anda motive source connected to the support frame at a location between the first and second mounting assemblies, with the motive source configured and arranged to engage an endless track. 37. A mounting assembly in combination with a vehicle having a body and a plurality of wheel axles, the mounting assembly comprising: a first attachment member configured and arranged to be removably attached to a vertical side of the body of the vehicle over an aperture that is exposed in the vertical side when a first wheel axle has been removed from the vehicle, the first attachment member comprising a first surface, a second surface and a transverse through hole extending between the first and second surfaces, with the mounting assembly positionable so that the through hole is brought into registry with the aperture when the mounting assembly is attached to the vertical side of the vehicle. 38. An apparatus in combination with a vehicle having a body and a plurality of wheel axles, the apparatus comprising: a first mounting assembly configured and arranged to be fastened to a vertical side of the body of the vehicle over a first aperture that is exposed in the vertical side when a first axle of the vehicle has been disconnected and removed therefrom;a second mounting assembly configured and arranged to be fastened to the vertical side of the body of the vehicle over a second aperture that is exposed in the vertical side when a second axle of the vehicle has been disconnected and removed therefrom;a support frame operatively connected to the first and second mounting assemblies; anda motive source attached to the support frame. 39. The combination of claim 38, wherein the motive source is operatively connected to and powered by the vehicle being converted into a tracked vehicle. 40. The combination of claim 38, wherein at least one of the first or second mounting assemblies further comprising a suspension system for reducing jolts transmitted to the vehicle when a vehicle travels over an uneven surface. 41. The combination of claim 38, wherein at least one of the mounting assemblies comprises a first attachment member, a second attachment member, and a link that operatively connects the first attachment member to the second attachment member. 42. The combination of claim 38, wherein each of the first and second mounting assemblies includes a first attachment member, a second attachment member and a link that operatively connects the first attachment member to the second attachment member, and wherein at least one of the first or second attachment members is configured and arranged for limited movement with respect to the support frame, with the limited movement sufficient to enable the first and second mounting assemblies to move independently from each other. 43. An apparatus in combination with vehicle of the type having a body with two spaced-apart, vertical sides and at least four drive axles, the apparatus comprising: a first mounting assembly configured and arranged to be fastened to one of the vertical sides of the body at a location where a first drive axle of the vehicle has been removed;a second mounting assembly configured and arranged to be fastened to said one vertical side of the body at a location where a second drive axle of the vehicle has been removed; anda support frame operatively connected to the first and second mounting assemblies.
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